Air-moistening device for combustion engines



April 22, 1930.

w. HAGER ET AL 1,755,733

AIR

MOISTENING DEVICE FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Jan. 14, 1928 Patente pr.22, 1930 STATES AIB-MOISTENING DEVICE FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES Applicationfiled January 14, 1928. Serial No. 246,834.

This invention relates to a device for moistenin air rior to the entrythereof into the cylin ers an internal combustion engine or other deviceto which it is desired to supply moist air.

An object of the invention is to provide an air moistener which, due tothe arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, will bemore eflicient than devices of this class heretofore in use.

Another object is to provide a device for the purpose stated which issimple and trouble-proof.

Another object is to provide a device of 1 this kind which willautomatically supply ample moisture at all times.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein anddisclosed by the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in cross section, of the device asused in connection'w th a carburetor and intake manifold of an internalcombustion engine.

The air moistening device of this invention is adapted for use withinternal combustion engines. The purpose of the air moistening device isto rovide moisture for the air drawn into a car uretor by the suction ofthe engine. As shown in the drawing, the device may be attached to theinlet port of any carburetor. The device comprises generally an innerbowl 4, an outer bowl 5, a float 6 having associated therewith a needlevalve, a uantity of wick material 7 which may be held in position by ascreen 8, a fluid supply tank or reservoir 9, and a suitable hood 10,all of which will be set forth in detail presently. The inner bowl 4 ispreferably of a cylindrical shape and is provided with a top 11 and abottom 12. The cylindrical wall 13 is provided with perforations 14which provide communication with the outer bowl 5. Said bowl 5 ispreferably cylindrical in shape, and encircles the inner bowl 4. Thewall 15 of the outer bowl is spaced from the cylindrical wall of theinner bowl so as to provide an annular channel 16 into which fluid fromthe inner bowl may enter.

A connecting member 17 provided with screw t eads 1.8, is secured to thebott m 12 of the inner bowl. The connectin member is provided with acentral bore 19 aving communication with a pipe 20-which carries fluidfrom the supply tank or reservoir 9. By this means the fluid may enterthe bowls 4 and 5. If desired a suitable stop cook 21 may be providedfor rendering the device inoperative.

Means com rising a float and needle valve are provided or controllingthe rate of flow of the liquid into the bowls. Said control meanscomprises a float 22 having a central longi tudinal bore 23 forreceiving a reciprocable needle 24, the lower end of'which is pointed.Said pointed end of the needle is adapted to enter the bore 19 in theconnecting member for impeding the flow of fluid when the float rises toa predetermined level. The connection between the float and the needlecomprises an annular grooved collar 25 fixedly secured upon the needle.A plurality of bell crank levers 26 are pivotally secured'to the insidesurface of the to 11, and are pro vided with free ends 27 w ich arereceived in the grooved collar on the needle. It should be noted that asthe float moves upwardly, it will abut the lever 26 at a point 28,thereby turning the lever 26 about its pivotal mounting.

The arm of the lever received by the collar 25 will then be moveddownwardly for moving the needle point into position for closing thebore 19. A suitable bushing 29 and cap 30 insure alignment andprotection to the needle 24 at its upper end.

A quantity of wick material 7 which may be a sponge or other capillarysubstance is positione upon the top 11 of the inner bowl and extendsdownwardly intothe channel 16 provided between the walls of the innerand outer bowl. As shown in the drawing, the fluid 31 rises in the outerbowl to a hei ht determined by the float 6. The portion 0 wick materialextending into the channel is immersed in the liquid, causing saturationof the entire wick by capillary attraction. The screen 8 is positionedover the wick and recludes displacement thereof. Any suita le means suchas screws 32 may be provided for securing the screen to the outer bowlwall.

The hood 10 is provided at one end with an enlarged opening 33 intowhich the wick por- At the opposite end of the hood there is prois of asize suflicient to provide an air channe 34 above and about the wick. Ifdesired suitable baiiie lates 35 may be provided upon the inside sur aceof the hood for deflecting the incoming air toward the wick material,whereby the moistening of said air is efltected.

vided an opening 36 which communicates with the inlet port 37 of anycarburetor 38. The carburetor 38 is connected with the usual in takemanifold 39 by means of bolts 40. Any suitable means may be provided forretaining the hood in position upon the carburetor in take port. In thedrawing a spring 41 is utilized for the purpose. The spring is so sha asto contact a lug 42 on the hood, whereby 'splacement of the hood isprecluded. v

Any suitable means such as screws 43 may be provided for securing thebowl and sponge elements upon the hood 10. .It'is evident that as air isdrawn into the carburetor through the channel 34 of the hood itwillstrikethe moistened wick material and become saturated before entrythereof into the engine. Great efficienc is obtained because of theconstruction 0 this device which presents a compara-- tively largemoistening. surface for theincoming air. It is to be understood thatvarious modifications may be made in the structural details of thedevice without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.What is claimed is: 1. In a device of the class described thecombination of an inner bowl provided withtop, bottom and side walls, anouter bowl communicating with and extending about the inner bowl andforming therewith an annular channel, a bored connection member securedto the bottom wall and adapted for direct' fluid mm a fluid reservoir,means for controlling the flow of said fluid, comprising a reciprocableneedle one end of which may gzqect into the bore of the connection memrfor closing said bore, a float provided with a longitudinal bore throughwhich the needle may extend, a collar on the needle, levers pivotalymounted on the inner bowl and actuable by the float for exerting adownward force on the collar and needle for moving the needletoward thebore of the connection member, means for retainingthe needle inalignment with the bore of the connection member, a quantity of wickmaterial superimposed upon the to of the inner bowl and extendingdownwar y into the fluid channel for saturation of the wick, and meansfor directing air toward the wick prior to the entry of said air into an"internal combustion engine.

2. In a device of-theclass described the combination of an inner bowlprovided with top, bottom andside walls, an outer bowl communicatingwithand extend ng about through the bore thereof a quantity of the innerbowl and forming therewith an annular channel, a bored connection membersecured to the bottom wall and adapted for directin through the borethereof a quand nection member, means for retaining the needle in ali Ient with the bore of the connection mem r, a'quantity of wick materialsuperimposed upon the top of the inner bowl and extending downwardlyinto the fluid channel for saturation of the wick, a hood having anenlarged open end-and a smaller open end, the enlarged open end beingadapted to freely receive the wick portion of the device so as toprovide an air passage about said wick portion, and'theother end of thehood being adapted for connection to a carburetor inlet port, wherebyair drawn through the hood into the carburetor port may be moisteneletdby the passage thereof over the moist .w1c

3. In a device. of the class described the combination of an inner bowlprovided with a top, an outer bowl communicating with and extendingabout the inner bowl and forming therewith an annular channel, meansassociated wi h the inner bowl for directing thereinto flui from a fluidreservoir, a float operated valve for controlling entry of the fluidinto the inner bowl, a quantity of wick material supported upon the topof the inner bowl and extending downwardly into the channel whereby thefluid in the channel may saturate the wick, and a hood havingcommunication with a carburetorinlet port and positioned over the wickmaterial for directmg air, passing through the hood, against thesaturated wick material prior to entry of the air into the carburetor.

4. In a device of the class described the combination of an inner bowlprovided with a. top, an outer bowl communicating with and extendingabout the inner bowl and forming therewith an annular channel, meansassociated with the inner bowl for directing thereinto fluid from afluid reservoir, a float operated valve for controlling entry of thefluid wick material for directing air, passing through the hood, againstthe saturated wick material prior to entry of the air into thecarburetor.

5. In a device of the class described, the

combination of an inner bowl, and an'outer bowl having communicationtherewith, means associated with the inner bowl for directing into theinner bowl fluid from a fluid supply reservoir, :1. float operated valvewithin the inner bowl for controlling the quantity of fluid admitted tothe bowl, a quantity oi wick material extending into and above the outerbowl and adapted for saturation with the fluid, and a hood havingcommunication with a carburetor inlet port and positioned over the wickmaterial for directing air, pass-- ing through the hood, against thesaturated wick material, whereby to. moisten the air before entrythereof into the carburetor.

- In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 12day of Jannary, 1928. v

WILLIAM HAGER. HENRY RIEKERT.

